Borrowing from an African proverb, Superintendent Rick Robins says it takes a team and a village to fulfill the District’s promise of helping 34,000 students experience a world-class education.
With that in mind, it’s with gratitude that Canyons School District recognizes Wednesday, Nov. 17, as Education Support Professionals Day to honor our ESPs — each one of the 2,905 — and all they do for students.
Along with our beloved teachers and administrators, that team and village include thousands of ESPs whose innumerable contributions in schools, district offices, garages, buses, and beyond play important roles in making the District run like a well-oiled machine to the benefit of our students.
“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a bus driver, lunch services person, a secretary, custodian, or aide, there are so many jobs that are filled that really provide this experience for our children,” Robins said. “I just want you to know how much I appreciate you.”
Deservedly, the District annually honors ESPs in its prestigious APEX Awards. In 2019, Facilities Services coordinators Carl Patterson, Jake Thomas, and Ryan Jakeman won the award; Kevin Kelson, the Custodial and Grounds Coordinator, was honored in 2020; and the Transportation Department’s Rick Hoggard, Lorraine Miles, and Jeff Wren, earned the recognition for 2021.
Earlier in November, the Canyons Board of Education passed a resolution to laud ESPs, who account for 54 percent of the District’s overall 5,388 employees.
RESOLUTION TO RECOGNIZE NOVEMBER 17, 2021 AS EDUCATION SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS DAY
Whereas, in 1987, a National Education Support Personnel Day was founded and celebrated as part of American Education Week; and
Whereas, Education Support Professionals are often the first people our community’s children encounter on a daily basis, and
Whereas, Education Support Professionals play vital roles in the college- and career-readiness of every Canyons District student, and
Whereas, education support professionals work tirelessly to ensure our students are ready to be productive citizens and serve our students and communities with care and professionalism; and
Whereas, Canyons District joins in celebrating National Education Support Professional Day and honors and recognizes the contributions that the District’s Information Technology professionals, custodians, administrative assistants, office staff, business managers, instructional aides, bus drivers, nutrition service workers, maintenance workers, and more, make to public education.
And, be it further resolved, that the Canyons Board of Education recognizes and lauds the many contributions of Canyons District Education Support Professionals for the positive impact they have on the lives of our students.
Now, therefore, I, Nancy Tingey, speaking on behalf of the Canyons Board of Education, recognize Nov. 17, 2021 as National ESP Day, and acknowledge the importance of the work done by Education Support Professionals in the Canyons District community.
